Chiefs release veteran Tamba Hali, clear $7.7 million in cap room

The Chiefs' youth movement continued Monday, as they released outside linebacker Tamba Hali, a source confirmed to The Star.

The release of Hali, 34, will clear approximately $7.7 million in cap room.

Hali, one of the Chiefs' longest-tenured players, is second all-time in franchise history in sacks with 89 1/2, behind only Pro Football Hall of Famer Derrick Thomas.

Hali, a first-round pick of the team in 2006, has battled balky knees the last few years. He last made the Pro Bowl in 2015, when he recorded 8 tackles and 6 1/2 sacks in 15 games. But after a 2016 season in which he recorded 34 tackles and 3 1/2 sacks, he recorded only a single tackle in five games last season.

Hali indicated he was strongly considering retirement last December. But he has also maintained that he wants to reach the 100-sack milestone and win a Super Bowl.

Hali is the latest Chiefs veteran to be moved this offseason, joining inside linebacker Derrick Johnson and quarterback Alex Smith.